Currently I am studying a Masters course at the University of Limerick. The course examines today's technology, how it is implemented and new ways of creating interaction. This blog space will be used to map my research and new findings daily and what thoughts that I may have on the development of my design projects.

Saturday, 28 January 2012

Interactive recycling bin

Late night ideas led me to researching some interactive projects that are out in the wider public. I came across this you tube video of another research team who were also designing an interactive approach to make recycling fun and easy. I think the process that they go through to be very interesting as you get to see early drawings and sketches that are turned into prototypes to be tested. They really come from the user centered design process. Good work guys : )

I was also reading about bins that thanks you when you put rubbish into them. This was one of Britians ways of tackling the ongoing solution to clean the cities. The article can be read at Singing Rubbish Bins. Sing London's director, Colette Hiller, told Sky News: "Its ambition is to actually make people care about the place where they live and we want to do that by using fun as a way to bring the best out in people." This has been done in Sweden and a talking bin took three times more rubbish than a normal bin.

2 comments:

This is a great idea! Making recycling fun and I think the best thing you can do is make it easy. The easier it is for someone to recycle the more likley they will.

I work in the shop area of a General Contractor, that's located next door to their main headquarters. I approached the main headquarters with my idea to start a recycling program in my shop, looking for ideas. They had some good insight for me and are getting me a paper recycling bin through iron mountain, a company we use for shredding papers that pick up the paper monthly. I sat down with the lady that is in charge of the program and come to find out, paper is currently all they recycle. They have recycle bins located throughout the building, she says that all of the bins just get thrown out each week. So we are teaming up to figure out a program that we can implement in both locations. At my town home I have a dumpster dedicated to recyclables that is provided by Waste Management, the nice thing is they take everything in the same bin, cardboard, plastic, aluminum, etc.. Sure enough my company contracts through waste management for trash, wallah drop a recycle dumpster at either the shop location or main headquarters and the recycling commences. I think the hardest part in the recycling process is getting people to sort out each different material, if we can combine all recycled materials in one location to be recycled, it will be far less of a hassle and more people will contribute.

I could not agree more on your point, that if you are going to recycle all materials, you have to combine this altogether at one location. Currently my research on the University Campus has led to some very interesting facts which have helped me to resolve my design ideas to tackle the litter problem.When I interviewed one of the care takers, he explained that he didn't have the time to sort through rubbish to separate the recyclable materials from the waste. You mentioned this point yourself, when the recyclable bins within the company's building just get thrown out and this in my opinion is because of lack of time and resources to sort through what can be recycled. So I understand the difficulties that care takers are in and companies too.Going back to your point about providing the user the opportunity to have a choice to where their rubbish belongs, either this is paper, plastic or general waste is a very good point, and if one bin could provide these different options it certainly would help the person disposing of their rubbish and the caretaker to remove it to the appropriate location.Thank you for your comment; it has helped me think more about my own design. Keep reading the posts of my developments. I will also be posting about another design project starting soon; however this recycling bin project will be at the centre of my research for a few months.All the best and let me know how your own project is developing. Paul